This book provides a very readable, up-to-date description of language variation in American English, covering regional, ethnic, and gender-based differences. The authors describe situations ranging from historically isolated, rural dialects to developing, urban ethnic varieties as they consider the descriptive, theoretical, and applied ramifications of dialects in American society. The book is written in an approachable style and its content will prove relevant not only for those in the various branches of linguistic study but also for students in English, education, speech and language pathology, communications, and anthropology. An appendix of major dialect structures in American English and a glossary of terms for non-specialists are included.

This book provides a very readable, up-to-date description of language variation in American English, covering regional, ethnic, and gender-based differences. The authors describe situations ranging from historically isolated, rural dialects to developing, urban ethnic varieties as they consider the descriptive, theoretical, and applied ramifications of dialects in American society. The book is written in an approachable style and its content will prove relevant not only for those in the various branches of linguistic study but also for students in English, education, speech and language pathology, communications, and anthropology. An appendix of major dialect structures in American English and a glossary of terms for non-specialists are included.